Device for elevating and lowering a reflecting mirror in a single lens reflex camera



United States Patent [72] Inventors Sunao Ishizaka,

Tokyo, Shlgeo Ono, Yokohama-shi, Japan [21] Appl. No. 710,920 [22] Filed March 6, 1968 [45] Patented Nov. 17, 1970 [73] Assignee Mippon Kogaku K. K.,

Tokyo, Japan,

a corporation of Japan [32] Priority March 9, 1967 [3 3] Japan [31 42/l9,938; 42/19,939

[54] DEVICEFOR ELEVATING AND LOWERING A REFLECTING MIRROR IN A SINGLE LENS FOREIGN PATENTS 877,542 4/1953 Germany 95/42 Primary Examiner-John M. Horan Assistant ExaminerRichard M. Sheer Attorney'-Anton J. Wille ABSTRACT: A mirror mechanism is disclosed for raising and lowering the viewing mirror of a single lens reflex camera wherein photometric measurements are made through the camera lens. A plate is pivoted on a shaft within the camera body and the viewing mirror is slidably mounted on this support plate. Through guide cam means, the mirror is translated relative to the support plate to retract the forward or lower edge of the mirror as the support plate is pivoted between the viewing and raised positions of the mirror thus avoiding any interference with lens mounting. Both the plate and the mirror are formed with openings which are aligned when the mirror is in its lowered or viewing position to permit photometric measurements to be made. The openings are closed due to the relative translation of the mirror when the mirror is in its raised position to block out any extraneous light entering the eyepiece of the viewfinder.

Patented Nov. 17, 1970 3,540,355

Sheet 1 014 Patented Nov. 17, 1970 7 3,540,365

Sheet 3 014 Patented Nov. 17, 1970 3,540,365

Sheet '5 of4 Patented Nov. 17, 1970 3,540,365

Sheet 1 of4 This invention relates to an improvement of the device for elevating and lowering a reflecting mirror in asingle lens reflex camera.

In conventional reflex cameras, the mirror housing within the camera bodyis madequite large due to the range of movement of the viewing mirror inpivoting from its viewing position to its upper or exposure position, It has been noted in cameras of the interchangeable lens type, that the use of lenses having a .short back focus caused some interference with the movement of the mirrors'lhere has been proposed arrangements wherein a fixed shaft is not used for pivoting the mirror, the mirror being moved by cams and links so that the front edge of the mirror is retracted during its movement to avoid the rear. end of the lens mounting, It has been found however, that for the correct positioning ofthe viewing mirror it is necessary that the mirror be pivoted on a fixed support or shaft.

In addition to the above, there has been known instances in which photometric measurements are made through the lens, wherein the mirror is made semitransparent, or partially transparent, thatextraneous light entering the eyepiece of the viewfinder enters the mirror housing during exposure thus requiring special shielding arrangements, Various proposals have been made 'in the past to provide shielding arrangements but these have required independent drives,- or complicated arrangements, or large space requirements due to the amount of movement of the-mirror and it associated accessories.

An object of this invention is to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks and provide a mirror driving mechanism,

particularly for a single lens reflex camera of the interchangeable lens type wherein photometric measurements are made through the lens, with'provisions for retracting the forward or .lower edge of the viewing mirror as it moves between its lower or viewing position and its upper or exposure position, and block out any extraneous light entering the eyepiece during i'ilm exposure,

In accordance with the invention, the viewing mirror is slidably supported on a plate which is pivotably mounted on a shaft fixed within the camera body. The plate is rotated by the usual mirror mechanism of the camera, the mirror being translated by a guide'cam relative tothe plate to withdraw or retract the lower edge of the mirror as the mirror plate is moved between its two extreme positions. Further, the mirror and its supporting plate is provided with a plurality of openings, the openings being in alignment to permit the light f rays to pass therethrough and impinge on the. photocell surface of an exposure meter when the mirror is in its viewing position. As the-plate is moved to its upper position, the relative translation ofthe mirror will close the openings to seal out Referring now to FIG. 1 wherein the first embodiment of this invention isillustrated, the reference character L is fixed to the U-shaped plate 3 and is engaged by the bifurcated end of a driving lever 5. The driving lever 5 is rotatable by conventional mirror driving means (not shown) for pivoting the plate 3 from a lowered position (FIG. 1) to a raised position (FIG. 2). The length of the plate 3 is selected so that the path of movement ofits free end will clear with distance to spare. any lens mount inserted into the camera body. A supporting plate 6 is provided on the plate 5 for a viewing mirror 7; the supporting plate 6 being formed with upstanding projections in which guide pins 8 and 9 are secured. The pins 8 and 9 are received within the longitudinal slots 30 so that the mirror and support plate are slidably mounted thereon. The length of the mirror 7 is such that it projects or is extended beyond the lower edge of the plate 7, the pins 8 and 9 being in the lower ends of slots 3a as illustrated in FIG. I.

A cam member 10 is secured to the camera wall 1, the cam member being formed with an arcuate slot 10a for receiving the guide pin 9. The form of the arcuate slot is so that the distance from the shaft 2 to the slot decreases as the plate3 is moved to its raised position. As the plate 3 is pivoted by the driving lever 5 from its lowered position in FIG. 1, the pin 9 fixed in the supporting plate 6 of the mirror 7 will be guided by the camming surfaces provided by the arcuate slot 100 to move the mirror relative to the plate 3, the retraction or telescoping of the mirror proving a path of movement for the lower edge of the mirror and its support which will clear the lens mount of any lens which may be mounted on the camera body. A trace of the path of the edge of the mirror is illustrated by the dotted dash line in FIG. 2. When the driving lever 5 is rotated in a clockwise direction to lower the mirror, the cumming means provided by the pin9 and slot 100 will extend the'inirro'r as it is lowered until the plate 3 abuts a stop I I provided on the cam member 10.

FIG. 3 illustrates a second embodiment of the present invention wherein a cam member 10' provided with a cam surface l0a is provided. The cam surface is abutted by the'pin 9 through the bias of a spring 12 interconnecting the plate 3 and the mirror supporting plate 6. With the raising of the plate 3 by the driving lever 5, the mirror and its support plate are translated relative to the plate 3 against the bias of spring I2; the bias of the spring extending the mirror and its support plate as the plate 3 is lowered.

In the third embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, like reference characters primed are used to designate elements similar to those already described. In this instance the plate 3 is formed with a slot 3'!) intermediate the slots 3'0 while the mirror supporting plate 6' is provided with an additional projection 6'12.

FIG. lis a vertical cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of this invention of a device for elevating or lowering a reflecting mirror, the mirror being in' its lower or viewing position.

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the first embodiment, where the mirror is at its elevated position;

FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are vertical cross-sectional views showing a second and a third embodiments similar to the embodiment off-"Ki. I;

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the light shielding device of this invention applied to the device for elevating a viewing mirror of FIG. I at the reflecting position;

FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view at the elevated position thereof,

FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 are vertical cross-sectional views of the device for elevating the reflecting mirror of FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, respectively, to which the light shielding device of this invention is applied, at the reflecting position.

The driving pin 4 is now provided on the projection 6'b, the pin 4' passing through the groove 3'b, and being engaged by the bifurcated end of the driving lever 5.

When the driving lever 5 is rotated counterclockwise, the mirrortand its support plate is first retracted and then the plate 3 elevated, Upon clockwise rotation of the driving lever, the reverse operation takes place. It will be appreciated that either the plate 3' or the supporting plate 6' may be used and linked to the driving lever 5.

In FIGS. 5 and 6, the mirror mechanism described is provided with means for blocking out any extraneous light which may enter the eyepiece of the viewfinder (not shown) while an exposure is being made. The plate 3 is formed with a plurality of openings 3c while the mirror supporting plate 6" is formed with similar openings 60. The openings 30 and 6c are aligned with the mirror in its viewing position (FIG. 5). The mirror being semitransparent or partially transparent, the light rays passing through the lens L will be deflected onto the viewing plate. someof the rays passing through the aligned openings and extension of the mirror 7 and its supporting plate 6 is the same as that described in the first embodiment. With theelevation of the mirror 7 from its viewing position in FIGS. 5,

the relative translation of the-mirror and its supporting plate embodiment of FIG. 4. The plate 3 is provided with openings 3c while the mirror support plate 6" is formed with similar openingsoc, the openings being aligned when the mirror is in its lowered position and closed with the mirror in its elevated position.

It will thus be seen that a mirror mechanism is provided for pivoting the viewing mirror of a single lens reflex camera by conventional means, the mechanism being of simple construction and compact enough to fit in the presently available or even smaller space provided in such cameras. With the retraction or telescoping of the mirror assembly to clear any lens mount it is possible to provide smaller camera bodies. It is also possible to remodel present cameras wherein shore back focus lenses cannot be'used due to the abutment of the mirror against the lens mount to include the retractable mirror aspivoted on the camera body, a supporting'plate slidably mounted on the pivotable plate and a viewing mirror on said supporting plate;

driving means for pivoting the pivotable plate between a first position in which the mirror is in its viewing position and a second position in which the mirror is in its elevated position when an exposure is being made, the length of the pivotable plate and of the mirror being so chosen that the mirror edge extends beyond the pivotable plate edge when the mirror is in its viewing position; and

means nctivatedupon movement of said driving means to pivot said pivotable plate from its first position to its second position for translating the mirror and supporting plate relative to the pivotable plate to retract the mirror edge, said last means extending the mirror and supporting plate when the pivotable plate is moved from its second position to its first position. 2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the translating means for the mirror and supporting plate includes:

a cam guide secured to the camera body; and a pin secured to the supporting plate and received within the cam guide. 3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the translating means for the mirror and supporting plate includes:

a camming guide surface;

a pin secured to the supporting plate and abutting thecamming guide surface; and resilientmeans interconnecting the pivotable plate and supporting plate extending the two plates and holding the pin against the camming guide surface. y 4. A device according to claim I, wherein the translating means for the mirror and sup orting plate includes:

a pin and slot connection etween the pivotable plate and the supporting plate; v

an elongated slot provided in the pivotable plate; and

a pin secured to the supporting plate and passing through the elongated slot for connection to said driving means.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein'the viewing mirror is semitransparent, and wherein a plurality of openings are provided in r the pivotable plate and a plurality of similar openings in the supporting plate, the respective openings being aligned when the mirror is in its viewing position and closed when the mirror is in its elevated position.

6. A device according to claim 2, wherein the viewing mirror is semitransparent, and wherein a plurality of openings are provided in the pivotable plate and a plurality of similar openings in the supporting plate, the respective openings being aligned when the mirror is in its viewing position and closed when the mirror is in its elevated position. I

7. A device according to claim 3; wherein the viewing mirror is semitranspar'ent, and wherein a plurality of openings are provided in the pivotable plate and a plurality of similar openings in the supporting plate, the respective openings being aligned when themirror is in its viewing position and closed when the mirror is in its elevated position.

8. A device according to claim 4, wherein the viewing mir- 

